49.325(2r)(a)(a) The department, after reasonable notice, may withhold a portion of the appropriation allocated to a county department under
s. 46.215,
46.22 or
46.23 if the department determines that that portion of the allocated appropriation is any of the following:
49.325(2r)(a)1.
1. For services under this subchapter which duplicate or are inconsistent with services being provided or purchased by the department or other county departments receiving grants-in-aid or reimbursement from the department.
49.325(2r)(a)2.
2. Inconsistent with state or federal statutes, rules or regulations, in which case the department may also arrange for provision of services under this subchapter by an alternate agency. The department may not arrange for provision of services by an alternate agency unless the joint committee on finance or a review body designated by the committee reviews and approves the department's determination.
49.325(2r)(a)5.
5. Inconsistent with the provisions of the county department's contract under
sub. (2g).
49.325(2r)(b)
(b) If the department withholds a portion of the allocable appropriation under
par. (a), the county department under
s. 46.215,
46.22 or
46.23 that is affected by the action of the department may submit to the county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county department or to its designated agent or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department or their designated agents a plan to rectify the deficiency found by the department. The county board of supervisors or its designated agent in a county with a single-county department or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty department or their designated agents may approve or amend the plan and may submit for departmental approval the plan as adopted. If a multicounty department is administering a program, the plan may not be submitted unless each county board of supervisors which participated in the establishment of the multicounty department, or its designated agent, adopts it.
49.325(3)
(3) Open public participation process. 49.325(3)(a)(a)
Citizen advisory committee. Except as provided in
par. (b), the county board of supervisors of each county or the county boards of supervisors of 2 or more counties jointly shall establish a citizen advisory committee to the county departments under
ss. 46.215,
46.22 and
46.23. The citizen advisory committee shall advise in the formulation of the budget under
sub. (1). Membership on the committee shall be determined by the county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county committee or by the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty committee and shall include representatives of those persons receiving services, providers of services and citizens. A majority of the members of the committee shall be citizens and consumers of services. The committee's membership may not consist of more than 25% county supervisors, nor of more than 20% services providers. The chairperson of the committee shall be appointed by the county board of supervisors establishing it. In the case of a multicounty committee, the chairperson shall be nominated by the committee and approved by the county boards of supervisors establishing it. The county board of supervisors in a county with a single-county committee or the county boards of supervisors in counties with a multicounty committee may designate an agent to determine the membership of the committee and to appoint the committee chairperson or approve the nominee.
49.325(3)(b)
(b)
Alternate process. The county board of supervisors or the boards of 2 or more counties acting jointly may submit a report to the department on the open public participation process used under
sub. (2). The county board of supervisors may designate an agent, or the boards of 2 or more counties acting jointly may designate an agent, to submit the report. If the department approves the report, establishment of a citizen advisory committee under
par. (a) is not required.
49.325(3)(c)
(c)
Yearly report. The county board of supervisors or its designated agent, or the boards of 2 or more counties acting jointly or their designated agent, shall submit to the department a list of members of the citizen advisory committee under
par. (a) or a report on the open public participation process under
par. (b) on or before July 1 annually.
49.325 History
History: 1995 a. 27.
49.33
49.33
Income maintenance administration. 49.33(1)
(1)
Definitions. In this section:
49.33(1)(c)
(c) "Income maintenance worker" means a person employed by a county, a governing body of a federally recognized American Indian tribe or a Wisconsin works agency whose duties include determinations or redeterminations of income maintenance program eligibility.
49.33(2)
(2) Contracts. County departments under
ss. 46.215,
46.22 and
46.23 shall annually enter into a contract with the department detailing the reasonable cost of administering the income maintenance programs and the food stamp program under
7 USC 2011 to
2029 when so appointed by the department. Contracts created under this section control the distribution of payments under
s. 20.445 (3) (dz),
(md) and
(nL) in accordance with the reimbursement method established under
sub. (8). The department may reduce its payment to any county under
s. 20.445 (3) (dz),
(md) and
(nL) if federal reimbursement is withheld due to audits, quality control samples or program reviews.
49.33(3)
(3) Rules. The department shall promulgate rules establishing standards of competency, including training requirements, for income maintenance workers.
49.33(4)
(4) Rules; merit system. The department shall promulgate rules for the efficient administration of aid to families with dependent children in agreement with the requirement for federal aid, including the establishment and maintenance of personnel standards on a merit basis. The provisions of this section relating to personnel standards on a merit basis supersede any inconsistent provisions of any law relating to county personnel. This subsection shall not be construed to invalidate the provisions of
s. 46.22 (1) (d).
49.33(5)
(5) Personnel examinations. Statewide examinations to ascertain qualifications of applicants in any county department administering aid to families with dependent children shall be given by the administrator of the division of merit recruitment and selection in the department of employment relations. The department of employment relations shall be reimbursed for actual expenditures incurred in the performance of its functions under this section from the appropriations available to the department of health and family services for administrative expenditures.
49.33(6)
(6) Personnel lists. All persons who are qualified as a result of examinations shall be certified to the counties in which they reside at the time of examination; if there are no resident qualified persons for any class of positions on the list certified to the county, appointments shall be made from available lists without regard to residence within the county.
49.33(7)
(7) County personnel systems. Pursuant to rules promulgated under
sub. (4), the department where requested by the county shall delegate to that county, without restriction because of enumeration, any or all of the department's authority under
sub. (4) to establish and maintain personnel standards including salary levels.
49.33(8)
(8) Reimbursement for income maintenance administration. 49.33(8)(a)(a) The department shall reimburse each county for reasonable costs of income maintenance relating to the administration of the programs under this subchapter and
subch. IV according to a formula based on workload within the limits of available state and federal funds under
s. 20.445 (3) (dz),
(md) and
(nL) by contract under
s. 49.33 (2). The amount of reimbursement calculated under this paragraph and
par. (b) is in addition to any reimbursement provided to a county for fraud and error reduction under
s. 49.197 (1m) and
(4).
49.33(8)(b)
(b) The department may adjust the amounts determined under
par. (a) for workload changes and computer network activities performed by counties.
49.33(9)
(9) Reimbursement for income maintenance benefits. The department shall reimburse each county from the appropriations under
s. 20.445 (3) (dz) and
(md) for 100% of the cost of aid to families with dependent children granted under
s. 49.19 and for funeral expenses paid for recipients of aid under
s. 49.30.
49.33(10)(a)(a) The county treasurer and each director of a county department under
s. 46.215,
46.22 or
46.23 shall certify monthly under oath to the department in such manner as the department prescribes the claim of the county for state reimbursement under
subs. (8) and
(9) and if the department approves such claim it shall certify to the department of administration for reimbursement to the county for amounts due under these subsections and payment claimed to be made to the counties monthly. The department may make advance payments prior to the beginning of each month equal to one-twelfth of the contracted amount.
49.33(10)(b)
(b) To facilitate prompt reimbursement the certificate of the department may be based on the certified statements of the county officers filed under
par. (a). Funds recovered from audit adjustments from a prior fiscal year may be included in subsequent certifications only to pay counties owed funds as a result of any audit adjustment. By September 30 annually, the department shall submit a report to the appropriate standing committees under
s. 13.172 (3) on funds recovered and paid out during the previous calendar year as a result of audit adjustments.
49.34
49.34
Purchase of care and services. 49.34(1)
(1) All services under this subchapter purchased by the department or by a county department under
s. 46.215,
46.22 or
46.23 shall be authorized and contracted for under the standards established under this section. The department may require the county departments to submit the contracts to the department for review and approval. For purchases of $10,000 or less the requirement for a written contract may be waived by the department. When the department directly contracts for services, it shall follow the procedures in this section in addition to meeting purchasing requirements established in
s. 16.75.
49.34(2)
(2) All services purchased under this subchapter shall meet standards established by the department and other requirements specified by the purchaser in the contract. Based on these standards the department shall establish standards for cost accounting and management information systems that shall monitor the utilization of the services, and document the specific services in meeting the service plan for the client and the objective of the service.
49.34(3)(a)(a) Purchase of service contracts shall be written in accordance with rules promulgated and procedures established by the department. Contracts for client services shall show the total dollar amount to be purchased and for each service the number of clients to be served, number of client service units, the unit rate per client service and the total dollar amount for each service.
49.34(3)(b)
(b) Payments under a contract may be made on the basis of actual allowable costs or on the basis of a unit rate per client service multiplied by the actual client units furnished each month. The contract may be renegotiated when units vary from the contracted number. The purchaser shall determine actual marginal costs for each service unit less than or in addition to the contracted number.
49.34(3)(c)
(c) For proprietary agencies, contracts may include a percentage add-on for profit according to rules promulgated by the department.
49.34(3)(d)
(d) Reimbursement to an agency may be based on total costs agreed to by the parties regardless of the actual number of service units to be furnished, when the agency is entering into a contract for a new or expanded service that the purchaser recognizes will require a start-up period not to exceed 180 days. This reimbursement applies only if identified client needs necessitate the establishment of a new service or expansion of an existing service.
49.34(3)(e)
(e) If the purchaser finds it necessary to terminate a contract prior to the contract expiration date for reasons other than nonperformance by the provider, the actual cost incurred by the provider may be reimbursed in an amount determined by mutual agreement of the parties.
49.34(3)(f)
(f) Advance payments of up to one-twelfth of an annual contract may be allowed under the contract. If the advance payment exceeds $10,000, the provider shall supply a surety bond in an amount equal to the amount of the advance payment applied for. No surety bond is required if the provider is a state agency. The cost of the surety bond shall be allowable as an expense.
49.34(4)
(4) For purposes of this section and as a condition of reimbursement, each provider under contract shall:
49.34(4)(a)
(a) Except as provided in this subsection, maintain a uniform double entry accounting system and a management information system which are compatible with cost accounting and control systems prescribed by the department.
49.34(4)(b)
(b) Cooperate with the department and purchaser in establishing costs for reimbursement purposes.
49.34(4)(c)
(c) Unless waived by the department, biennially, or annually if required under federal law, provide the purchaser with a certified financial and compliance audit report if the care and services purchased exceed $25,000. The audit shall follow standards that the department prescribes.
49.34(4)(d)
(d) Transfer a client from one category of care or service to another only with the approval of the purchaser.
49.34(4)(e)
(e) Charge a uniform schedule of fees as specified under
s. 49.32 (1) unless waived by the purchaser with the approval of the department. Whenever providers recover funds attributed to the client, such funds shall offset the amount paid under the contract.
49.34(5)
(5) Except as provided in
sub. (5m), the purchaser shall recover from provider agencies money paid in excess of the conditions of the contract from subsequent payments made to the provider.
49.34(5m)(a)1.
1. "Provider" means a nonstock corporation organized under
ch. 181 that is a nonprofit corporation, as defined in
s. 181.0103 (17), and that contracts under this section to provide client services on the basis of a unit rate per client service.
49.34(5m)(a)2.
2. "Rate-based service" means a service or a group of services, as determined by the department, that is reimbursed through a prospectively set rate and that is distinguishable from other services or groups of services by the purpose for which funds are provided for that service or group of services and by the source of funding for that service or group of services.
49.34(5m)(b)1.1. Subject to
subds. 2. and
3., if revenue under a contract for the provision of a rate-based service exceeds allowable costs incurred in the contract period, the provider may retain from the surplus generated by that rate-based service up to 5% of the contract amount. A provider that retains a surplus under this subdivision shall use that retained surplus to cover a deficit between revenue and allowable costs incurred in any preceding or future contract period for the same rate-based service that generated the surplus or to address the programmatic needs of clients served by the same rate-based service that generated the surplus.
49.34(5m)(b)2.
2. Subject to
subd. 3., a provider may accumulate funds from more than one contract period under this paragraph, except that, if at the end of a contract period the amount accumulated from all contract periods for a rate-based service exceeds 10% of the amount of all current contracts for that rate-based service, the provider shall, at the request of a purchaser, return to that purchaser the purchaser's proportional share of that excess and use any of that excess that is not returned to a purchaser to reduce the provider's unit rate per client for that rate-based service in the next contract period. If a provider has held for 4 consecutive contract periods an accumulated reserve for a rate-based service that is equal to or exceeds 10% of the amount of all current contracts for that rate-based service, the provider shall apply 50% of that accumulated amount to reducing its unit rate per client for that rate-based service in the next contract period.
49.34(5m)(b)3.
3. If on December 31, 1995, the amount accumulated by a provider from all contract periods ending on or before that date for all rate-based services provided by the provider exceeds 10% of the provider's total contract amount for all rate-based services provided by the provider in 1995, the provider shall, at the request of a purchaser, return to that purchaser the purchaser's proportional share of that excess.
49.34(5m)(f)
(f) All providers that are subject to this subsection shall comply with any financial reporting and auditing requirements that the department may prescribe. Those requirements shall include a requirement that a provider provide to any purchaser and the department any information that the department needs to claim federal reimbursement for the cost of any services purchased from the provider and a requirement that a provider provide audit reports to any purchaser and the department according to standards specified in the provider's contract and any other standards that the department may prescribe.
49.34(6)
(6) Contracts may be renegotiated by the purchaser under conditions specified in the contract.
49.34(7)
(7) The service provider under this section may appeal decisions of the purchaser in accordance with terms and conditions of the contract and
ch. 68 or
227.
49.34 History
History: 1995 a. 27;
1997 a. 79.
49.35
49.35
Public assistance; supervisory functions of department. 49.35(1)(a)(a) The department shall supervise the administration of programs under this subchapter. The department shall submit to the federal authorities state plans for the administration of programs under this subchapter in such form and containing such information as the federal authorities require, and shall comply with all requirements prescribed to ensure their correctness.
49.35(1)(b)
(b) All records of the department and all county records relating to programs under this subchapter and aid under s.
49.18, 1971 stats., s.
49.20, 1971 stats., and s.
49.61, 1971 stats., as affected by
chapter 90, laws of 1973, shall be open to inspection at all reasonable hours by authorized representatives of the federal government. Notwithstanding
s. 48.396 (2), all county records relating to the administration of the services and public assistance specified in this paragraph shall be open to inspection at all reasonable hours by authorized representatives of the department.
49.35(1)(bm)
(bm) All records of the department relating to aid provided under
s. 49.19 are open to inspection at reasonable hours by members of the legislature who require the information contained in the records in pursuit of a specific state legislative purpose. All records of any county relating to aid provided under
s. 49.19 are open to inspection at reasonable hours by members of the board of supervisors of the county or the governing body of a city, village or town located in the county who require the information contained in the records in pursuit of a specific county or municipal legislative purpose. The right to records access provided by this paragraph does not apply if access is prohibited by federal law or regulation or if this state is required to prohibit such access as a condition precedent to participation in a federal program in which this state participates.
49.35(1)(c)
(c) The department may at any time audit all county records relating to the administration of the services and public assistance specified in this section and may at any time conduct administrative reviews of county departments under
ss. 46.215,
46.22 and
46.23. If the department conducts such an audit or administrative review in a county, the department shall furnish a copy of the audit or administrative review report to the chairperson of the county board of supervisors and the county clerk in a county with a single-county department or to the county boards of supervisors and the county clerks in counties with a multicounty department, and to the director of the county department under
s. 46.215,
46.22 or
46.23.
49.35(2)
(2) The county administration of all laws relating to programs under this subchapter shall be vested in the officers and agencies designated in the statutes.
49.35 History
History: 1995 a. 27.
49.36
49.36
Work experience program for noncustodial parents. 49.36(1)(1) In this section, "custodial parent" means a parent who lives with his or her child for substantial periods of time.
49.36(2)
(2) The department may contract with any county to administer a work experience and job training program for parents who are not custodial parents and who fail to pay child support or to meet their children's needs for support as a result of unemployment or underemployment. The program may provide the kinds of work experience and job training services available from the program under
s. 49.193 or
49.147 (3) or
(4). The program may also include job search and job orientation activities. The department shall fund the program from the appropriation under
s. 20.445 (3) (dz).
49.36(3)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (f), a person ordered to register under
s. 767.295 (2) (a) shall participate in a work experience program if services are available.
49.36(3)(b)
(b) A person may not be required to participate for more than 32 hours per week in the program under this section.
49.36(3)(c)
(c) A person may not be required to participate for more than 16 weeks during each 12-month period in a program under this section.
49.36(3)(d)
(d) If a person is required by a governmental entity to participate in another work or training program, the person may not be required to participate in a program under this section in a week for more than 32 hours minus the number of hours he or she is required to participate in the other work or training program in that week.
49.36(3)(e)
(e) If a person is employed, the person may not be required to participate in a program under this section in a week for more than 80% of the difference between 40 hours and the number of hours actually worked in the unsubsidized job during that week.
49.36(3)(f)
(f) A person who works, on average, 32 hours or more per week in an unsubsidized job is not required to participate in a program under this section.
49.36(3)(g)
(g) If the person's child receives benefits under
s. 49.19, the liability under
s. 49.195 of a parent who is a member of the child's household is reduced by the amount of the federal minimum hourly wage under
29 USC 206 (a) (1) for each hour the person participates in a program under this section. This paragraph does not apply beginning on the first day of the 6th month beginning after the date stated in the notice under
s. 49.141 (2) (d).
49.36(4)
(4) When a person completes 16 weeks of participation in a program under this section, the county or Wisconsin works agency operating the program shall inform the clerk of courts, by affidavit, of that completion.
49.36(5)
(5) A person participating in work experience as part of the program under this section is considered an employe of the county or Wisconsin works agency administering the program under this section for purposes of worker's compensation benefits only.
49.36(6)
(6) A county or Wisconsin works agency administering the program under this section shall reimburse a person for reasonable transportation costs incurred because of participation in a program under this section up to a maximum of $25 per month.
49.36(7)
(7) The department shall pay a county or Wisconsin works agency $200 for each person who participates in the program under this section in the region in which the county or Wisconsin works agency administers the program under this section. The county or Wisconsin works agency shall pay any additional costs of the program.
49.37
49.37
New hope project. 49.37(1)(1) The department shall allocate funds to new hope project, inc., as provided in
s. 49.175 (1) (s), for a demonstration project that will be conducted in 2 areas in the city of Milwaukee, if all of the following conditions are satisfied:
49.37(1)(a)
(a) A person who lives in either of the 2 areas is eligible to enter the project if he or she is at least 18 years of age and has a family income below 200% of the poverty line, as defined in
s. 49.001 (5), for a family the size of the person's family.
49.37(1)(b)
(b) The project assists a participant who is not employed to obtain a job other than a community service job under
par. (c).
49.37(1)(c)
(c) The project assists a participant who is not employed before entering the project and who does not obtain a job under
par. (b) within a reasonable time, as determined by new hope project, inc., to obtain a community service job and funds the wages paid for that community service job.
49.37(1)(d)
(d) If a participant is employed before starting the project or becomes employed under
par. (b) but his or her wages are lower than wage levels established by new hope project, inc., the project assists the participant in obtaining state and federal earned income tax credits and, if the wages plus the earned income tax credits are lower than the established wage levels, provides the participant with wage supplements.
49.37(1)(e)
(e) If a participant is employed, the project assists the participant to obtain and, if necessary, funds any of the following services needed by a participant and his or her family:
